Thoughts On Don't Ask Don't Tell?

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

Just because they repealed DADT doesn't mean that all of a sudden there are going to be gays in the military...they've always been there....they've always fought side by side, showered w/ you, kicked back a few beers w/ you. Never had any issues before...but now that we aren't going to kick them out...its all of a sudden an issue.

As long as they are capable at doing the job they are tasked w/....its a non-issue.

(1) Under DADT, gays had to choose between coming out, or serving in the military. They could not do both. By repealing dadt, gays can come out and serve, so it stands to reason (to me) that more will enlist. Furthermore, today, if a soldier comes out, they are discharged. After dadt is repealed, coming out won't be grounds for discharge. Given those realities, how can we NOT expect more gays in the military.

(2) as far as changing the current reality. Under dadt, gays in the military cannot come out. Therefore, no one knows they are gay, and they cannot act gay, so all of the hypothetical problems I proposed are eliminated. Without dadt, gays can "be gay", and therefore all of my hypotheticals become more relevent.